Sports Digest Soccer Shorts

READING striker Kevin Doyle was named FAI/eircom International Player of the Year at Sunday's annual awards when Celtic winger Aiden McGeady lifted the Young Player of the Year title. Ipswich Town midfielder Owen Garvan was named Under-21 Player of the Year . . . DROGHEDA United's new boss Alan Matthews has signed goalkeeper Steve Williams from Sporting Fingal and defender Alan McNally from UCD. Matthews has also handed trials to Irish under-21 internationals Ian Bermingham and John Paul Kelly . . . DERRY City midfielder Kevin Deery could miss the start of the new League of Ireland season after picking up a knee injury during a training game in Spain last week when defender Clive Delaney also picked up a knock . . . PRESTON defender Eddie Nolan was a late call up to the Irish squad for Wednesday night's World Cup qualifier against Georgia after injury forced Steve Finnan out of the game . . . BIRMINGHAM'S Irish defender Stephen Kelly has signed for Stoke City on loan for the rest of the season and could make the move permanent in the summer . . . IRISH winger Stephen Hunt has agreed a new long-term contract at Reading which will keep him at the Madejski Stadium until the summer of 2012 . . . ASTON Villa manager Martin O'Neill has been linked with a move for Irish goalkeeper and former Celtic trainee Paul Skinner.